Phoenix

I saw that Kimberly Brubaker Bradley had written a new book, so I got Phoenix (Book 1 of the Ride On series) from the library. The book description says, "Harper’s life has just exploded. Her parents are getting a divorce. And she suspects her best friend, Cat, may have known the reason for it long before she did. Now Harper and her mom are starting over in a cramped house, in a new town, where everything feels unfamiliar, including the riding barn next door. Harper’s never been around horses before. And no, she does not want to learn to ride—Until a truck dumps a starved and neglected horse right in Harper’s yard. Harper has no idea what to do with a live horse, let alone a nearly dead one. But one look at this horse’s huge eyes and skinny body, and something inside Harper unlocks. The horse is named Phoenix, she decides. And she will not give up on him. Neither, it turns out, will Phoenix give up on her. She doesn’t know it yet, but this is Harper’s first step—toward new friends, new challenges, new adventures. Toward riding."

This was a nice read. I liked that it was a short middle grade book (only 162 pages), which is hard to find. I really liked the characters and rooted for Harper as she sorted through some difficult situations and emotions. I would enjoy reading more the series and would recommend this to my kids. I didn't LOVE this book like I have some of the author's other books, but I still enjoyed the read and was engaged in the story. (P.S. I think technically this is an older middle grade book, like ages 10–14.)

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

A Year Without Home

I saw A Year Without Home by V.D. Bidania on a new book list and got it from the library. The book description says, "For eleven-year-old Gao Sheng, home is the lush, humid jungles and highlands of Laos. Home is where she can roll down the grassy hill with her younger siblings after her chores, walk to school, and pick ripe peaches from her family’s trees. But home becomes impossible to hold onto when the communist government takes over after U.S. troops pull out of the Vietnam War. The communists will be searching for any American allies, like Gao Sheng’s father, a Hmong captain in the Lao Army who fought alongside the Americans against the Vietnamese. If he’s caught, he’ll be killed. As the adults frantically make plans – contacting family, preparing a route, and bundling up their silver and gold, Gao Sheng wonders if she will ever return to her beloved Laos and what’s to become of her family now. Gao Sheng only knows that a good daughter doesn’t ask questions or complain. A good daughter doesn’t let her family down. Even though sometimes, she wishes she could be just a kid rolling down a grassy hill again. On foot, by taxi and finally in a canoe, Gao Sheng and her family make haste from the mountains to the capitol Vientiane and across the rushing Mekong River, to finally arrive at an overcrowded refugee camp in Thailand. As a year passes at the camp, Gao Sheng discovers how to rebuild home no matter where she is and finally find her voice."

This was a great read. It took me awhile to get through (which is surprising since it's written in verse and I usually breeze through these kinds of books), but once I got into it, I was engaged and kept wanting to pick it up. I was not sure to put this book as liked or loved, but once I finished and then read the Author's Note, it definitely moved into loved as I learned about the experiences being based on her family's real experience. I thought it was a powerful story, and the author wrote it perfectly well for children -- they can  understand the experiences of a refugee, but the book is never too heavy for this audience. I loved how the author portrayed Gao Sheng's feelings and her desire to find her place. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Anxietyland

I got Anxietyland by Gemma Correll (a graphic novel memoir) after seeing it on a new-book list at the library. The book description reads, "In 2018, Gemma Correll had a panic attack that lasted for weeks on end. Unable to do much more than walk aimlessly through the streets of Berkeley, Correll admitted herself to the hospital to reckon with The Bad Feeling that had been her companion since she was a child. With her ingenious and charming illustrations 'bursting with personality...peppered with witty asides' (Publishers Weekly), Correll leads readers through the amusement park in her own mind—featuring severe anxiety, depression, agoraphobia, and dissociation—a frightening and darkly funny world that 'feels like a place apart from "real" life.' A hilarious thrill ride exploring the mysteries of the mind-body connection, Gemma Correll’s graphic memoir is shot through with the absurd knowledge that there is no linear way through Anxietyland, nor any cure-alls—but there are ways to feel better if you keep trying to move forward."

This was an amazing book. I found the book relatable and both serious and funny. (Like she addressed everything related to her mental illness as real but somehow also made me laugh out loud.) The illustrations were amazing, and it was the type of graphic novel I enjoyed reading. I feel like she helped readers understand what it is like to live with mental illness. For those who don't have anxiety, she helped explain what the journey is like, and for those who do, it just helps them feel less alone. She was super vulnerable and authentic, and I just loved reading her experiences. I'm having my 15-year-old daughter read this next.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Anxious Generation

I have had The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt on my to-read list for awhile and finally got through the hold list on the library. The book description says, "After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on many measures. Why? In The Anxious Generation, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the 'play-based childhood' began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the 'phone-based childhood' in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this 'great rewiring of childhood' has interfered with children’s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies. Most important, Haidt issues a clear call to action. He diagnoses the 'collective action problems' that trap us, and then proposes four simple rules that might set us free. He describes steps that parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments can take to end the epidemic of mental illness and restore a more humane childhood."

This was a great read. I was super engaged and was glad to see the author addressing these issues. I felt validated with some of the choices I've made with my kids regarding technology but also became aware of the choices I could make differently in terms of overprotecting my kids in the real world. I thought the book was super eye-opening, so I am planning to pick it for a future book club pick so I can discuss it with others. I thought the book made some great points about the impact it could make if lots of members of the community made the same choices to kind of change the expectations in our communities. This was a really thought-provoking read that addresses the current issues facing our kids--definitely would recommend.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

I Cheerfully Refuse

I read I Cheerfully Refuse by Leif Enger on audiobook for book club. The book description says, "Set in a not-too-distant America, I Cheerfully Refuse is the tale of a bereaved and pursued musician embarking under sail on a sentient Lake Superior in search of his departed, deeply beloved, bookselling wife. Rainy, an endearing bear of an Orphean narrator, seeks refuge in the harbors, fogs and remote islands of the inland sea. Encountering lunatic storms and rising corpses from the warming depths, Rainy finds on land an increasingly desperate and illiterate people, a malignant billionaire ruling class, crumbled infrastructure and a lawless society. Amidst the Gulliver-like challenges of life at sea and no safe landings, Rainy is lifted by physical beauty, surprising humor, generous strangers, and an unexpected companion in a young girl who comes aboard. And as his innate guileless nature begins to make an inadvertent rebel of him, Rainy’s private quest for the love of his life grows into something wider and wilder, sweeping up friends and foes alike in his strengthening wake."

I really enjoyed this book. The story was engaging, and it was beautifully written. There were parts (even on audiobook!) that just stuck out to me and made me want to write them down. Like Rainy's description of Lark as "making the world better by being in it." The book was one of those ones that just made me amazed how authors even come up with storylines because the book had so many twists and turns that I never really knew where things were going, but I enjoyed it all. I always loved Rainy as a steady character who stayed true to who he was. I loved Sol and the parts where Rainy was reading to her and teaching her the letters. There were super annoying characters (the grandpa) and characters who just made the book worth reading (can't think of their names at the moment but the couple who Rainy meets who helps him and then he goes back to them in the end) and characters who were disturbing (Werryck). The book also just had an underlying message about the power of books, which I thought was beautiful. The story had some heavy parts and parts where it was just another bad thing and I had to put the book down for a bit to just cope before I could bear it again, but that just shows how engaging the story was. Overall, this was a great read--I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Dividing Sky

I read The Dividing Sky by Jill Tew for book club. The book description says, "In 2364, eighteen-year-old Liv Newman dreams of a future beyond her lower-class life in the Metro. As a Proxy, she uses the neurochip in her brain to sell memories to wealthy clients. Maybe a few illegally, but money equals freedom. So when a customer offers her a ludicrous sum to go on an assignment in no-man's-land, Liv accepts. Now she just has to survive. Rookie Forceman Adrian Rao believes in order over all. After discovering that a renegade Proxy's shady dealings are messing with citizens' brain chemistry, he vows to extinguish the threat. But when he tracks Liv down, there's one problem: her memories are gone. Can Adrian bring himself to condemn her for crimes she doesn't remember? As Liv and Adrian navigate the world beyond the Metro and their growing feelings for one another, they grapple with who they are, who they could be, and whether another way of living is possible."

It's been awhile since I read a dystopian type book, so this took me a little bit to make sure I was following the story and the new world correctly. But once I got into the story, I was invested and enjoyed following it to see what happened to the characters and how things worked out. It was a fun premise, and again, I probably would have had more to say if I'd written this review right after finishing.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Seeking Persephone

I read Seeking Persephone by Sarah Eden for book club. The book description says, "When Persephone Lancaster receives a marriage proposal from the ill-tempered Duke of Kielder, she refuses—and then reconsiders. The obscene sum of money he’s offering Persephone would save her family from ruin. With her characteristic optimism, she travels to the far reaches of Northumberland to wed a greatly feared stranger. Lodged deep in a thick forest infested with wild dogs, the Duke’s castle is as cold and forbidding as the Duke himself, a man with terrible scars on his body and his soul. But the Duke’s steely determination to protect his heart at all costs is challenged by his growing attachment to his lovely and gentle bride. With caring persistence, Persephone attempts to pierce the Duke’s armor and reach the man beneath. Yet he cannot tolerate such exposure, and his repeated rejections take their toll. But when grave danger arises, the Duke realizes he must face the risk of revealing his true feelings or lose the woman he cannot live without."

This was a fun read. I was interested in the story and enjoyed the characters. Some parts made me roll my eyes a little bit, but I enjoyed the book, and it made me laugh. I wish I had written this review right after I read the book and then I'd probably have more to say, but alas.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

Haven

I read Haven: A Small Cat's Big Adventure by Megan Wagner Lloyd for consideration for Ollie's school Every Lion, One Book program in the future and then ended up selecting it for my kids' book club--so read it a second time aloud to Ollie. The book description says, "A warm, cozy lap. The toasty smell of baking bread. Tasty food served in a bright-blue bowl. These make Haven’s life as an indoor pet heaven. All thanks to her beloved human and rescuer, Ma Millie. But when Ma Millie becomes too sick to care for her, the cat’s cozy life is turned upside down, and Haven decides she must seek out another human for help. Anything for Ma Millie! Her vow pulls her out of her safe nest into the shadowy forest and down unfamiliar and dangerous roads. When her first plan fails, Haven meets a wilderness-savvy fox who volunteers as an ally, and their perilous journey together brings some victories. But Haven finds herself pitted against creatures far wilder than she ever could be, testing her strength and spirit to their limits. Will her loyalty to Ma Millie—and her newfound confidence in herself—be enough to help Haven see the quest through to its conclusion? Can she stand up against the fierce predator that is tracking her every move?"

This is a really sweet book. When I read it to Ollie, I ended up pretty much bawling near the end and it was hard to get through it. But I thought this was just a beautiful read with an engaging story for kids. I liked it the first time I read it earlier in the month but probably liked it even more reading it with Ollie. The book was well written and exciting with likable characters.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

The Nickel Boys

I read The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead for book club. The book description says, "When Elwood Curtis, a black boy growing up in 1960s Tallahassee, is unfairly sentenced to a juvenile reformatory called the Nickel Academy, he finds himself trapped in a grotesque chamber of horrors. Elwood’s only salvation is his friendship with fellow 'delinquent' Turner, which deepens despite Turner’s conviction that Elwood is hopelessly naive, that the world is crooked, and that the only way to survive is to scheme and avoid trouble. As life at the Academy becomes ever more perilous, the tension between Elwood’s ideals and Turner’s skepticism leads to a decision whose repercussions will echo down the decades."

This was a really engaging read. It actually read kind of like a nonfiction book, so I had to keep reminding myself it was fictional (even though it was based on real events). The book really highlighted the unfair things that happened to the boys that went to the school this book was based on. I really liked all the references to Martin Luther King Jr speeches and the lines that inspired Elwood.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Huntress

I read The Huntress by Kate Quinn for book club. The book description says, "Bold and fearless, Nina Markova always dreamed of flying. When the Nazis attack the Soviet Union, she risks everything to join the legendary Night Witches, an all-female night bomber regiment wreaking havoc on the invading Germans. When she is stranded behind enemy lines, Nina becomes the prey of a lethal Nazi murderess known as the Huntress, and only Nina’s bravery and cunning will keep her alive. Transformed by the horrors he witnessed from Omaha Beach to the Nuremberg Trials, British war correspondent Ian Graham has become a dedicated Nazi hunter. Yet one target eludes him: a vicious predator known as the Huntress. To find her, the fierce, disciplined investigator joins forces with the only witness to escape the Huntress alive: the brazen, cocksure Nina. But a shared secret could derail their mission unless Ian and Nina force themselves to confront it. Growing up in post-war Boston, seventeen-year-old Jordan McBride is determined to become a photographer. When her long-widowed father unexpectedly comes homes with a new fiancée, Jordan is thrilled. But there is something disconcerting about the soft-spoken German widow. Certain that danger is lurking, Jordan begins to delve into her new stepmother’s past in this gripping post-war mystery—only to discover that there are mysteries buried deep in her family . . . secrets that may threaten all Jordan holds dear."

This was a great book. I had to switch between audio and reading in order to finish the long book on time for book club, but I enjoyed it both ways. The story was super engaging and easy to follow, even as it switched among three different characters. The book was thought-provoking and led to lots of great discussion at book club. It definitely had some adult content and language, which was pretty much the only downside for me. Otherwise I really enjoyed the story and seeing this part of history, and I was so impressed by the author's ability to just create a compelling story and tell it the way she did.

* * (2/3 = Liked it)

Anne of Green Gables

I know I already have this book on the blog, but I read it again for book club. (Someone chose it who had never read it before.) The book description says, "For generations, readers have been charmed by the special world of Green Gables, an old-fashioned farm outside a town called Avonlea. Eleven-year-old Anne Shirley has arrived in this verdant corner of Prince Edward Island only to discover that the Cuthberts—elderly Matthew and his stern sister, Marilla—want to adopt a boy, not a feisty redheaded girl. But before they can send her back, Anne—who simply must have more scope for her imagination and a real home—wins them over completely."

This book was just a complete delight. I had forgotten how great it was, and it was just the joy I needed in my life. I honestly just kept thinking as I read it, "I love this book. Anne is just delightful." She would make me laugh out loud. Anne is just the most distinct, lovable character with so much personality. I loved reading this book.

* * * (3/3 = Loved it)

2026 Picture Books

Here are some picture books I've read in 2026 and really enjoyed. (I will update this post with more as the year goes on.)

I thought this was a great, relatable story with a great message of kindness and standing up for yourself. I was already a fan of the author but really enjoyed this. The illustrations were really well done.

This book was awesome. It made me laugh out loud. Just incredible illustrations that show so much feeling and a story that kids will relate to. I'd love to see this one get a Caldecott.

This was such a cool story. I loved the message and also loved the style of illustrations.

The Burning Season

I saw The Burning Season by Caroline Starr Rose on a list of potential Newbery contenders and so got it from the library. The book description says, "Twelve-year-old Opal has a secret: she’s deathly afraid of fire. Still Opal is preparing to become a fourth-generation lookout on Wolf Mountain, deep in the New Mexico wilderness. She, Mom, and Gran live at ten thousand feet in a single room at the top of a fire tower. They are responsible for spotting any hint of smoke before it becomes an uncontrollable blaze. Instead of training for the lonely life of a lookout, Opal wishes she could be starting seventh grade in Silver City, attending real classes with kids her own age and even going to afterschool clubs like FFA. But Wolf Mountain has other ideas. When Mom makes the long trek to town for supplies and Gran goes missing, Opal is the only one to spot a tell-tale spiral of smoke moving up the mountainside. She’ll have to be braver than she’s ever been as she heads into the woods, beyond Wolf Ridge’s old blackened burn scar, to face down a fire on her own. But when a fire is what took her father away, and Opal herself knows the sting of smoke and lick of flames, how can she be brave enough when it really counts?"

This was a good read. The story kept me interested, and I liked Opal as a character. I thought it was fun to see her draw connections and inspiration from Hatchet and Brian's Winter, books I enjoyed as a kid as well (but I didn't live out in nature like she does!). It was a really unique story premise, which I enjoyed. I thought the verse format wasn't as good as some books in verse, and I'm not sure why. It just gave a bit more of a choppier vibe, but I know the author is a capable verse writer since I liked her book May B as well. I liked how the book came together in the end, which made me like it a little more (originally this was maybe more of an "it was okay" book).

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

The Snow Child

I read The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey for book club. The book description says, "Alaska, 1920: a brutal place to homestead, and especially tough for recent arrivals Jack and Mabel. Childless, they are drifting apart—he breaking under the weight of the work of the farm; she crumbling from loneliness and despair. In a moment of levity during the season's first snowfall, they build a child out of snow. The next morning the snow child is gone—but they glimpse a young, blonde-haired girl running through the trees. This little girl, who calls herself Faina, seems to be a child of the woods. She hunts with a red fox at her side, skims lightly across the snow, and somehow survives alone in the Alaskan wilderness. As Jack and Mabel struggle to understand this child who could have stepped from the pages of a fairy tale, they come to love her as their own daughter. But in this beautiful, violent place things are rarely as they appear, and what they eventually learn about Faina will transform all of them."

This book was so good! It took me awhile to start reading, but once I did, I was hooked and anxious to keep reading and see how the book would conclude. The writing was beautiful, and I loved the realness of the characters. I felt the pain of Jack and Mabel, loved Esther and her confidence and decisiveness, and was enchanted by Faina. I wasn't sure if I was going to be happy with the end of the book, but somehow the author made it beautiful even when things weren't all good. It was a great January read, especially since we had book club the day before a big snowstorm hits. :) The book lended itself to some great book club discussion. I'm really glad I read this one.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)

Good Inside

I saw Good Inside: A Guide to Becoming the Parent You Want to Be recommended somewhere and so got it on audiobook from the library. The book description says, "Over the past several years, Dr. Becky Kennedy—known to her followers as 'Dr. Becky'—has been sparking a parenting revolution. Millions of parents, tired of following advice that either doesn’t work or simply doesn’t feel good, have embraced Dr. Becky’s empowering and effective approach, a model that prioritizes connecting with our kids over correcting them. Parents have long been sold a model of childrearing that simply doesn’t work. From reward charts to time outs, many popular parenting approaches are based on shaping behavior, not raising humans. These techniques don’t build the skills kids need for life, or account for their complex emotional needs. Add to that parents’ complicated relationships with their own upbringings, and it’s easy to see why so many caretakers feel lost, burned out, and worried they’re failing their kids. In Good Inside, Dr. Becky shares her parenting philosophy, complete with actionable strategies, that will help parents move from uncertainty and self-blame to confidence and sturdy leadership. Offering perspective-shifting parenting principles and troubleshooting for specific scenarios—including sibling rivalry, separation anxiety, tantrums, and more—Good Inside is a comprehensive resource for a generation of parents looking for a new way to raise their kids while still setting them up for a lifetime of self-regulation, confidence, and resilience."

This was a great read. I found the book had lots of practical ideas and a good perspective on parenting. I feel like there were many parts that helped me see things differently in how my kids behave and how I parent. I feel like this is one of those books I may have to read again (nonaudiobook next time) to really pin down all the parts that stuck out to me, but for now, I hope lots of the ideas have just seeped in to my mind and will help me be a better mom. :) I wasn't always 100% engaged, so it took me awhile to get through it (since I wasn't like, oh I can't wait to listen to this again), but I would definitely recommend this book to others.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)

It's Not Supposed to Be This Way

I read It's Not Supposed to Be This Way: Finding Unexpected Strength When Disappointments Leave You Shattered by Lysa TerKeurst for book club. The book description says, "Life often looks so very different than we hoped or expected. Some events may simply catch us off guard for a moment, but others shatter us completely. We feel disappointed and disillusioned, and we quietly start to wonder about the reality of God’s goodness. Lysa TerKeurst understands this deeply. But she's also discovered that our disappointments can be the divine appointments our souls need to radically encounter God."

This was a good read. I felt like the author made some great points, and I found the book to be uplifting and relatable. She asked the hard questions and didn't tie everything up with a perfect bow. Rather, she shared insights that helped her face the difficulties and disappointments that have come her way. I listened to the book on audio but would be interested in going back through the hard copy to make note of some of the lines that stuck out to me. I thought this was a meaningful read and would recommend it to people going through difficult times and trying to come to terms with how this aligns with faith in God. Every now and then, I felt like the book dragged on a bit or was a little repetitive, but I think it was a good read. I would read more books by the author.

Rating: * * (2/3 = Liked it)